Why are the live buffers not the same?

**KAB** · 11-16-2009 02:08 PM

Originally Posted by Jhon69

Yea I hear that's quite common when you live on a fixed income but I do try to make the best from the cards I have been dealt.

Huh?

**Jhon69** · 11-16-2009 02:34 PM

Originally Posted by whatchel1

What advantage does having the longer buffers really do? My 722k is usually so busy that there are no going to be long buffers in the machine.

Well I will take Mondays for example,we like Antiques Roadshows and Heroes that both come on at 8PM PST so I live buffer both channels PBS&NBC.Watch Roadshows first because of no commercials then after Roadshows is over switch tuner to CBS because we like the Big Bang Theory that comes on at 9:30 PM PST .Then go to the tuner that has NBC rewind live buffer start watching Heroes while FFWing through commercials.After getting through watching Heroes go to the CBS tuner rewind live buffer then watch Big Bang Theory while of course FFWing through commercials.This can be achieved because I have 2-120 minute live buffers on the 625.I reserve my recording space for movies I like to record.

But I also can see if I know I won't be home to record such programs see to me having the longer live buffers gives me(the operator) another option than just to record a program(s).Having live buffers is like adding space to your hard drive because you don't have to record every program.

P.S. I also could not do this with just 2-60 minute live buffers.

**Jhon69** · 11-16-2009 02:38 PM

Originally Posted by KAB

Enjoy your self-deprivation.

Originally Posted by KAB

Huh?

I am enjoying my self-deprivation as that is all I have,I make the best of it.

**joshr915** · 11-16-2009 03:09 PM

along with everyone else, I dont see your point here. just start recording both (two buttons!) then if you insist on sitting paused on it, go to the DVR menu, select the recording you just started and sit paused on it. I have no idea what this "hassle of recording" you speak of is.

And when you talk about watching both shows at once, swapping between the buffers....you realize if you just record both, watched one at a time skipping commercials, it takes the EXACT same amount of time to watch both?

Originally Posted by Jhon69

Having live buffers to like adding space to your hard drive because you don't have to record every program.

Please explain why recording is so hard..? Takes about 1 second to start a recording

**TheKrell** · 11-16-2009 03:24 PM

For one thing, you have to remember to delete a recording. The buffer goes away without doing anything more complicated than hitting the power button.

**TheKrell** · 11-16-2009 03:27 PM

For another thing, many of us are busy and do other things while the TV is droning on in the background. If we belatedly discover a program we want to record, but it's already over or half-over, we can hit the rewind, followed by the record button, and watch the "missed" program at a later date. Obviously this won't work if the program started more than an hour before (assuming VIP series receiver).

**Jhon69** · 11-16-2009 07:53 PM

Originally Posted by joshr915

along with everyone else, I dont see your point here. just start recording both (two buttons!) then if you insist on sitting paused on it, go to the DVR menu, select the recording you just started and sit paused on it. I have no idea what this "hassle of recording" you speak of is.

And when you talk about watching both shows at once, swapping between the buffers....you realize if you just record both, watched one at a time skipping commercials, it takes the EXACT same amount of time to watch both?

Please explain why recording is so hard..? Takes about 1 second to start a recording

It's not hard to record it's just live buffers add another dimension to the DVR otherwise why have any live buffer at all? to be able to just record everything to me the DVR can be alot more than just a recorder and having enough live buffer time adds to that diversity and Dish's 625 has that ability the ViPs do not in my mind that's all I saying.With longer live buffers like the 625 the ViPs would be the total package.

**Jhon69** · 11-16-2009 07:59 PM

Originally Posted by TheKrell

For one thing, you have to remember to delete a recording. The buffer goes away without doing anything more complicated than hitting the power button.

Originally Posted by TheKrell

For another thing, many of us are busy and do other things while the TV is droning on in the background. If we belatedly discover a program we want to record, but it's already over or half-over, we can hit the rewind, followed by the record button, and watch the "missed" program at a later date. Obviously this won't work if the program started more than an hour before (assuming VIP series receiver).

You are correct!.

**whatchel1** · 11-16-2009 08:12 PM

Since the 722k can record 4 things at 1 time I don't understand all this hub bub about the buffers. Just record it and watch it whenever. That is what I do so to me this whole thing is much ado about nothing.

**BobaBird** · 11-16-2009 08:19 PM

Your posts would be easier to read if you would put a space between the sentences.

There is more than one right way to use the box, but I don't understand going to such lengths to ignore the R in DVR. I've used the buffer twice in the past week, both times to record a small segment of a show. One I happened across live, the other was planned from a replay of a recorded show (wish we could truncate from the ends of a recording to do this).

Why bind yourself to the network's schedule, or even within an hour or 2 of it? Why risk missing part of what you intend to watch by accidentally clearing the buffer? Why risk running long watching one before you get back to the other? Set New Episode timers and watch the recordings at your own convenience, or even in-progress if you prefer.

If you don't want to be bothered with deleting episodes, then don't. The oldest will be erased automatically as the drive fills, or you can set an option in the timer to retain a max # of episodes. Being able to record an entire show you just started watching in the middle is definitely a nice benefit of the buffer, but it presumes the DVR was already on, and has been on the same channel since the start time of the show which hopefully was not more than an hour ago.